I’ve been pretty upfront about the fact that I didn’t start a blog to meet people. I started a blog to document our lives for Alex so that one day he’ll be able to look back and have a sense of who his daddy and I are as people, not just as parents, and I started a blog to try to keep in touch a little bit better with the friends I’ve had for years and years. But new friends? Not a goal. Honestly, the possibility of that never entered my mind.
But back in the spring I did an online Bible study that Lauren organized, which meant that suddenly there were about 25 other blogs I was visiting. So over the course of ten weeks, I learned a good bit about the people participating. And I developed a relationship with several of them. Granted, it’s not EXACTLY like it happens in real life, but you do get a sense of who you could hang out with, and who you could confide in, and who looks at life from a similar perspective. And before you know it, people feel like friends. Not “online friends” or “those people on the internet” – but friends.
Color me surprised.
A couple of months ago, I got an email from Robin that said, bascially, “Hey, what if we took a trip to Savannah to go to Paula Deen’s restaurant?” She mentioned some of the logistics that would be involved, and then: “Are you scared?”
To which I replied: “I ain’t skeered.” I mean, I AM from Mississippi. Them there Texas gals don’t skeer us one iota. They make THINK that their hair is bigger, but they’ve got nothin’ on us. Trust me. When I was a freshman in college, my bangs had their own zip code.
So we started to plan.
Turns out, Addie‘s coming. Flying here from “Missourah,” as my mama says. Theresa, too. She’s flying from Arizona to Texas, then riding with Robin from Texas to Alabama. Lori is driving down from Ohio. Then the five of us are getting in my car, and we’re driving to Savannah. And going to Paula Deen’s restaurant. And, I imagine, talking incessantly. I’m dying to hear Addie sing, so I’m going to, you know, make her.
But more than anything I’m looking forward to just VISITING – getting the stories behind the stories that we read on each other’s blogs. The neatest thing is that all the preliminaries are out of the way…so we can jump straight into the deep end of the conversational waters. And I love that.
All that to say: I’ll be a little scarce ’round these parts for the next couple of days. Because I’m going to Savannah with my stranger-friends. Only they’re really not strangers at all…I know their hearts, even if I’ve never seen their faces in person. And the fun starts in about 6 hours.
So if you think about it, please pray for our safe travel. Robin, Theresa and Lori have a LOT of driving in front of them for the next three or four days…and I’m driving everybody from here to Savannah. So you might want to also pray for my visitors’ nerves.
I’ve actually gone back and forth about taking my laptop with me…D. has teased me about how the girls and I will end up riding around looking for a wi-fi hotspot so that we can “liveblog” our trip. But I’m thinking that I’m going to leave the computer at home…I don’t want to be so busy writing about the trip that I forget to enjoy it. And I think that, between the five of us, you’ll get to hear alllll the details when we get home.
See y’all in a few!
I DONT KNOW ANY OF YOU BECAUSE I’M NEW TO THIS BLOG WORLD BUT I THINK ITS GREAT YOU 5 ARE DOING THIS. YOU MEET PEOPLE ALONG THIS FANTASTIC JOURNEY AND ALONG THE WAY SOME BECOME FRIENDS….GO ENJOY THIS TRIP, ENJOY EACH OTHER…AND REMEMBER THESE TIMES…YOU LIVE ONCE AND ONE TIME ONLY SO LIVE IT WELL…..HAVE FUN SAVANNAH IS A GREAT PLACE..WITH SOUTHERN CHARM..DRINK LOTS OF ICED TEA AND SAY YA’LL ALOT….BE GIRLS….
JEN
You girls have fun! The rest of us are so jealous we’re spitting nails out here.
And that crack about your bangs having their own zip code? Well, as usual when I read your latest post, I’m on the floor rolling around again.
How very wonderful that you guys get to meet:)… I hope someday I am lucky enough to meet some of my blog friends.
It really is a blast to meet the people your friends with online in person. I’ve done this a couple of times and I have never once regretted it!
I hope you have a safe trip and a wonderful time!
Thanks for the words of encouragement earlier :)
Drive safe, have fun for all of us, don’t get lost!
WOW! won’t the readin’ be great this coming week, all over the blogs – have a blast!
WOO HOO!
Can’t WAIT to hear all about it!
Ya’ll have fun. When you get there, don’t turn left (my Savannah post!) Have some of Paula’s fried chicken for me!!
How fun for all of you! We can’t wait to hear all about it. As much as we’d love for you to take your laptop and blog the entire time, I think the rest of us can manage to keep the internet wound up while you’re away. Just take lots of pictures and enjoy your trip!
Oh, I do love Savannah. When we go, we like to stay at the Old Harbor Inn. It’s just off the water and we’ll always enjoy the sights and shops down the boardwalk. I hope y’all have a great time and a blessed one.
~Kristi
Oooh how lovely, I’d love to meet some of my bloggy pals, but living in England it’s struggle. I think I only have 2 English regular blogites visiting my blog. Hope you have a great time and you all have safe journeys. Blessings. Sarah
that sounds like so much fun. it is such a neat thing how you make friends blogging. it has been a real blessing to me.
hope you have a wonderful fun time. maybe you can do each other’s hair from the olden days.
I LOVE Savannah!!! Paula Deen’s place is FABULOUS!!! Don’t order off the menu. Go through the buffet. Also, if there’s a line to get a table. Tell the host that you;re going up stairs to sit at/in the bar (it’s first come first serve in that area and no one really drinks up there). Have a great time! If you thought B’ham was hot, wait til you feel Savannah’s humidity…..
Myself and some of my on line girl friends are going to a hotel for a weekend in about 4 weeks. We are going to have some great meals, get our nails done, and just talk, talk, talk. And God is there too as we are all going to a local church for the Sunday morning service.
I’m really looking forward to it.
I’ll be blogging when it happens.
God uses all sorts of tools to get Christians together.
That sounds like so much fun! Can’t wait to hear details: what you talked about, who had the biggest hair, what you ate, who had the best/worst accent. You know. The important stuff.
What? No computer, no blogging, no email? Well, I might as well turn mine off, too, since you’re not going to be around! ;) Y’all have FUN! (Or, actually, I hope you HAD fun, since you won’t be reading this until after the fun!!)
Green with envy, Sarah
That sounds like so much fun! I have a question about you doing the blog for your son. How are you backing it up if at all. Saving each post, or just relying that it’ll be there in years to come? I was wanting to do the same things…
Oh man I cant believe you are going to Paula Deens restuarant. I am like one of her biggest fans. I am not even going to pretend like Im not jealous because I am sooo jealous. Well have fun. Please take a picture of the restaurant and send it to me… seriously
I think that is so cool y’all are doing the roadtrip thing. Have a blast.
I really wrote to tell you…
Reasons I should be nominated for the Diet Coke award.
1. I have had conversations with friends about which fast food restaurants serve Diet Coke and which to avoid at all costs regardless of how good their food items may be because of foolish soft drink affiliations.
2. When I order Diet Coke in a sit down restaurant and the waitress smilingly says, “Will Diet Pepsi be alright?” I scowlingly say, “Uh, NO! I’ll have unsweetened tea.”
3. I use DC as a shooter between coffees or water for that nice boost in productivity while at home.
4. I have ties (by marriage) to Atlanta the Coke Capital of the South.
Can’t wait to hear all about the trip and the fun you’re having! Theresa is awesome, you’ll love her. I’ve never met Robin but if she’s a friend of T’s then she’s gotta be great.
Have fun!!
I’d be willing to bet that out of all those on that trip, at least ONE if not more of you will have a laptop or notebook along for blogging. I can’t wait to read the details about Paula Deen’s and everyone’s impressions of each other. Drive safely both ways, BooMama and Company, and have a great time. :-)
That sounds like so much fun! One day I’ll organize a blogunion. And it does sounds like Nancy should be nominated for the Diet Coke Award.
Oh Wow…I am SO jealous! And so happy for you, too!
And the first part of your post could have been written by me…my purpose originally was to document our personal family times and to keep friend and family updated…I never knew- once I unclicked the privacy button on my blog- that there was this whole wonderful world out here- I have been meeting such great fellow Christian women and it’s been way too addicting. ;)
As for Savannah…I love the Food Network, so when I was reading a funny Christian chicklit book called “Savannah from Savannah” and she mentioned Paula Deen’s restaurant, I thought it was a hoot! (OK, now I’m talking southern just thinkin’ about it!)
Have a super time!
I am so green with envy, on so many levels, that I’ve lost the ability to SPEAK!
I’ll have to go make myself a Gooey Butter Cake just to console myself.
I think anytime girls get together it will be a fun time! And how wonderful to know there hearts before you meet them. You aren’t tempted to judge, you base the relationship on the inner beauty. Hope you have loads of fun, as I know you will, cause I think anywhere BooMama is, there is going to be fun!
Oh, all I see is green. Sea of green envy… But I will still enjoy your fun times and the fact that some of my faves are meeting together… I can’t wait to hear all about it from every. single. one. of. you.
And take pics… lots of pics please!
oh DUDE am i jealous!
I hauled my laptop to KC for the KC Blogfest (where I met Addie, who I think is one and the lovely same!) And I didn’t even touch it. Too busy gabbing! But, write down your thoughts as soon as you get home. That’s my advice, but then again, I’m 46 and have to make two identicle shopping lists. One for the car and one for my purse because I forget the one in the car.
I just found your blog and I love it already. I too, am from Mississippi. Starkville to be exact. Anyway, I hope yall have a great trip. I love Paula Deen and all of her pats of butter.
Blessings,
Trixi
Phil.4:8
It sounds like a wonderful trip. I haven’t met any blog friends, but I use to do the chat room thing. We had a get together once time in Nashville TN. and about 15 of us showed up. I don’t scare easy when it comes to Internet folks. My husband and I met in a chat room. Spent 36 hours together, moved into together 6 weeks later, married two years after that and have been together now for 8 years. As you can see a trip to meet girl friends from a blog would be a piece of cake.
Have a wonderful time!
I feel the same way about reasons I started a blog. It is so neat to see how the Lord works things out and uses other people to encourage and/or challenge us.
Have fun–I know it will be great!…and I’m only a little jealous (I was actually talking about this very thing on my blog today!)
Goodness gracious ms. Popular, we are still even writing you and you havent even been home LOLOL. Shouldnt you be coming back soon? Lol
oh – so jealous I am. that would be such a blast!! I am way up here in the pacific northwest…so sad to miss all the fun as you guys get together…boo hoo hoo…
Since your blog is read by ‘tens of people everyday’ and mine is only read by a few, I am asking for prayer for my friend Amy. She is a Christian mother that is battling cancer (just diagnosed July 2nd). See her blog http://www.wilhoite.blogspot.com
Thanks in advance!